of "today" on this new year's morning, tuesday, the 1st day of january, 2013. we want to wish everyone at home a happy and healthy new year. i'm savannah guthrie alongside willie geist and natalie morales. al has the morning off. happy 2013. >> shchampagne the morning afte. i'm up for it. >> we've probably had enough champagne by now. >> little hair of the -- look who is talking over here. >> half empty or half full? >> you're halfway home the way i look at it. >> you just think of your night

as continuing. >> it is. >> keep on drinking. >> meanwhile, we'll get this party started with our take three, two very funny people joining the bench, offering their take on the hot topics of the new year. >> you might already have a little cabin fever from that cold weather, though we're just two weeks into winter. from miami's art deco district to the shores of the french r riviera, these places affordable and fun. no time like now to start planning that vacation. >> my bags are packed. >> or leave on vacation. if you want to make something special for your loved ones today, two delicious recipes for french toast and f richltfritattas. >> hangover food is what you're saying. >> it works. >> andrea canning is at the news desk with the top story this is morning.

a lot of people need that hangover food this morning. a deal to side step big tax hikes and spending cuts. the house is expected to vote today or tomorrow. so far speaker john boehner has refrained from endorsing the agreement. the prognosis is good for secretary of state hillary clinton. she is being treated in a new york city hospital for a blood clot for a vein in her head. the clot was discovered sunday in a follow-up exam for the concussion she suffered after a fall in her home last month. she did not suffer neurological damage and is expected to make a full recovery. from nato to afghan control will begin in two months, aiming to cover 90% of the country's population. the transition that began in early 2011 is supposed to give afghan forces full responsibility for security by the end of 2014, when most nato troops will have withdrawn.

following a day of bloodshed. 23 people were killed and 87 people wounded in the day of attacks. most killed were religious pilgrims on their way to the holy city. in a surprise speech today, kim jong un called for an end of conflict between the two koreas. the first in 19 years by a north korean leader. tensions have risen to their highest level in decades after the north bombed a southern island in 2010, killing two civilians and two soldiers. the world rang in the new year with a hope for better days ahead. pope benedict prayed that 2013 will be a year of peace, despite growing between rich and poor and terrorism. he celebrated the new year with a service in st. peter's basilica. vladimir putin delivered an address calling for unity.

scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely throughout the southeast and gulf coast. some areas may receive over an inch of rain. in fac expect isolated snow showers throughout the ohio valley and >> mostly cloudy to start out the new year. we're up near 40 degrees. mostly cloudy skies. a >> and that's the weather. now back to willie g. >> andrea, thank you.

time now for a special new year's edition of take three. we'll kick off 2013 with some laughs. joining us this morning, currently on the shaq all-star comedy jam and michelle bowen on "last comic standing." happy new year. >> thank you for joining us. >> how is everybody feeling? >> where is that champagne? >> are you morning people? >> no. >> haven't been to sleep yet. >> is that right? boy, you look good for somebody who hasn't been to sleep yet. >> black don't crack. >> michelle, some things you want to tackle. you look good to me but you want to lose some weight. >> going to the gym, that's a big one i did that last year. i joined a gym. and they just called me and said my membership is going to expire. would i like to renew. i said where are you located? that didn't work out too well. it's hard, you know.

there's all these resolutions. you plan and then it's january 5th and you go, you know, next year. >> exactly. >> you're out on the road a lot, too. you do a lot of cruise ship acts. >> oh, yeah. >> can't be easy to stay in shape. >> have you ever been on a cruise? >> on the water. >> buffet and everything. >> talk about hunger games. it's like you've never eaten. i'm on them so much and i say i'm not going to eat. okay, one cookie. it's hard to stay away from food. that's all the cruise is, a floating buffet. >> how are those cruise ship crowds, treat you well? >> yeah, they're good. they haven't thrown me off yet. haven't had to swim home. >> you're trying to quit smoke as well? >> oh, please. if there's anyone out there young, don't smoke. look at me, i'm 25. that's funny. anyway, i decided this is what i'm going to do to quit smoking. i'm going to smoke only after sex so i won't smoke. >> there you go.

>> there it is. >> me? >> yeah. >> let me see. my new year's resolution is that i'm going to -- oh, i'm going to keep eating right. i'm going to fast right now, lost a lot of weight. looks good on me. >> you do look good. >> the things i do to chicken wings is ungodly. >> i don't want to know that. >> 2013 i just want to be nicer to buffalo wings and chicken wings. anything with wings i just want to do better. i want to be on time more, early for my appointments in 2013. i'm always running late. and that causes me stress which causes road rage, which causes me to say mean things to strangers. >> you've got one more i want to ask you about in a minute. natalie, what about you? what's your new year's resolution? >> i have, like many working moms, you tend to get into the -- you know, the yes mode. you're always saying yes to things and then you get overextended. i'm going to learn how to say no.

so, no. >> want to go to lunch tomorrow? >> yes. >> oh, no. it's already broken. >> can i borrow $500? >> no! >> that was discrimination. >> you have to be careful. >> we talked about this a little earlier. i would like to play my guitar a little more. i haven't really touched it too much this year. i would like to learn yoga. i can't really even touch my toes at the moment. i'm trying to achieve a more serene state. and i had another one. i forgot. >> yours plays into mine. i have a huge stack of books next to my bed. i want to read those. i also want to learn how to play the guitar. i took a one-hour class in college. because i had to graduate. >> no time like the present. it is 2013. let's go.

>> why don't you hit me with a chord i can get started on? >> natalie and i did this. >> yes. >> we tried to learn the guitar together. it's hard. >> are you patient? are you a patient teacher? >> extremely patient. >> yoga. >> i can attest to that. >> let's try g. >> sure. >> we can all do a g. talk to me about fingers. where are we going? >> well, i want to show you. you do this. put one finger there, then one here. okay. but i think it should be this finger here. yep. and then there. that's g. >> hold on. no, put that there. no, it isn't. pay attention. like that. >> this is going so well. >> there is the g. >> okay. i think. wait. that doesn't sound right. slide over one more. i messed you up. >> like this? >> there you go. >> no. >> wow! we'll pick this up a little bit later on. >> see you in 2014. >> it was a good start.

see? we're just beginning. i feel like you're too aggressive of a teacher. she's touching my fingers. it's very weird. >> he needs a gentle teacher. >> you're wearing something interesting this morning. >> yeah. >> tell me why. >> i'm wearing my bow tie. this is the first time wearing a bow tie. >> i grew up wearing tear away pants. i know tear away pants when i see them. >> i was trying to bring back in my sexy for 2013. >> okay, okay. >> people said i was going too fashion forward. i was saying with the bow tie. >> uh-oh. uh-oh. >> they're playing the song. >> have you heard of megan? >> i have. >> have you heard about megan? >> i have. >> what about megan? >> i can show you or i can -- >> hey! >> we can't hear you. >> i'll get that. >> wow! >> tell me about meggings and

why. >> i heard justin bieber wears meggings, russell brand wears them. >> a rock star thing or -- >> slimmer, sexier entertainers are wearing these nowadays. so, you know, every now and t n then, this is what i do. >> do you have to wear the tear away pants with them and present them when you walk into a room? >> i like to do that before a business meeting. >> yeah. they look good. are those breathable? >> oh, yeah, it breathes. it's nice and warm. >> easy to go to the bathroom in those? >> they have a zipper, you know. >> champagne. >> i have these for my new year's resolution. >> just wear those? >> just wear these out. >> with shoes and a shirt.

>> with a shirt. >> you're a brave man. there it is. >> nice. >> with that, we wish you a happy 2013. >> why do you have tear away pants? >> no. >> why did you, growing up? >> happy new year. up next, vacation hot spots for the new year, after this. this happy couple used capital one venture miles

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edition of "today's" travel 2013, whether you're looking for paradise or a city brimming rich with culture, there are a lot of spots to suit everyone's taste. from the travel website jetsetter.com. happy new year, kate. >> happy new year to you. >> you say a banner year. >> i think so. >> why so? >> couple of reasons for this. 2013 is a year of anniversaries and celebrations going on around the world. that means it's a great time to visit places that are celebrating and places we've kept our eye on for a few years are kind of coming of age. it's a great time to visit them. up and coming. it generally means it's more affordable. >> you say there are big trends as well you're seeing in 2013 already. people traveling alone. you'll see more of that. >> yes. >> as well as people opting for different kinds of alternatives to the standard hotel options. >> solo travel. great reasons to travel on your own. it's a good thing to do. the reasons being you can set

your own schedule. you can eat what you want, visit where you want. >> maybe even meet someone. >> set solo travel up by 50%. it's not just women that are going. traditionally women have been more solo travelers than men. vacation remt rentals is a big as well. the hotel is never going to go out of fashion but people are renting apartments, villas. if you're traveling in a group that can be more affordable. you get your own kitchen. >> swapping as well a lot, too. some of the hot places. let's get to those. miami, florida, has been hot for a long time. >> yes. >> now it's hotter than ever. >> certainly not up and coming, but 2013 a big year in terms of hotels. some really, really big brands coming to south beach and to downtown that we haven't seen them before. if you want to visit miami right

now, we recommend you stay at a standard hotel. january and february. there's a new hotel called the james royal palm on south beach and it's 1939 art deco hotel that's been completely redone. >> great vacation destination for the whole family. >> it is whether you want roman romance, family, there's a hotel for everyone. >> next destination, birmingham, alabama, high on your list because of its rich history but a lot going on there. >> one of the centers of the civil rights movement. that happened 50 years ago in 2013 and they're marking that with lots of exhibitions. we have pictures from the birmingham civil rights institute exhibition, production of to kill a mockingbird. it's an interesting city to take the kids. we found them to be about half priced. got a decent hotel room for about $100 a night.

>> another place that a lot of people don't typically think to go on vacation there is pittsburgh, pennsylvania. >> right. >> this is really making a comeback. >> in the travel industry we're looking always for this hot new american city. portland, oregon, has had that crown for many years. pittsburgh may steal the crown. >> pittsburgh is the newport land. >> yes. it has its own mini silicon valley. it has growing restaurants, microbreweries. again, affordable. definitely worth a look. >> overseas travel, marsailles, france. >> second biggest city in france, east coast. there's a new museum. celebrations starting on january 12th. and much, much cheaper than paris. not a cheap city by any means. if you want a taste of france and fantastic seafood try

marseille. >> also croatia, you say, is a sought after travel destination. >> joining the eu in 2013. another good reason to go. over 1,200 islands. definitely go inland to the national park which has 16 interlinking lakes and waterfalls, great for treking and boating. >> sounds beautiful. if you want to go south, go to central america. you also think nicaragua will become more competitive. i heard it's like the new eco tourist place to go, right? >> new coasta costa rica. it has the same beaches, wonderful surf. it's got rain forests like costa rica, monkeys, volcanos, you name t it's unspoiled at the moment. >> is it safe there now to go? >> yes. granada. >> you say a good time to go

there is april through november shall. >> exactly. >> kate maxwell, always great to have you here. happy new year once again. >> happy new year to you. >> we're heading into "today's" kitchen for a light new year's day brunch with donatella. what's that? oooh. very interesting. cool. i like "success." joy. i got cracker chips. [ laughing ] chocolatey pretzel. mmmm.... special k! [ female announcer ] snack and stay on track with special k. i like "confidence." i am a confident lady.

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your money needs an ally. oh hi, yes. wow you really went all out on the decorations, huh? yeah, but i'm so slow taking them down after all the fatty holiday food. but that's normal. what do you mean that's normal? it doesn't have to be. to me normal means feeling good inside. not slow. try some activia. activia helps with occasional irregularity when eaten three times a day. keep a video diary and let me know about your new normal. keeping up with the kids is tough, so i drink emergen-c. with vitamin c for immune support and b vitamins for natural energy, i'm ready for whatever they get into. get your free sample at myemergenc.com. stay healthy and feel the good. a little more. there's a real, like, camaraderie in the parking lot... shut up! that's it! let's go in the car. my time to shine is the smoked pulled pork. i think it's done broseph!

pretty much got it down to a science... pretty much. we also really like a great pulled pork sandwich even when we can't make the game. you ruined it! some people even like it better. really? yep. [ male announcer ] new carving board pulled pork, get that delicious slow smoked taste without the hassle. it's game time food. it's oscar mayer. still to come on this new year's day, a duet from colbie caillat and gavin degraw. >> and out on the rink. >> after your local news and

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>> this is wbal-tv 11 news and a baltimore. >> rain passes to our south. sprinkle out and baltimore, mostly cloudy skies. temperatures hover into the 40's in the afternoon. mountains, 30's and 40's today, with a couple of snow of flurries. colder tomorrow morning. 28 for the morning high.

back now with more of "today" and a look outside at the skating rink and the beautiful channel gardens here at rockefeller center. we want to wish everybody a very happy new year. as you wake up this morning, some of you perhaps shaking off the cobwebs. >> why are you look iing at me? >> i'm willie geist alongside natalie morales. happy new year. >> happy new year to you as well. having a god time already. two easy and delicious ideas for your new year year's breakfast or brunch. chef donatella is whipping up

french toast and frittatas, including leftover champagne. >> do you think we have enough in there? >> she'll be on the floor by the end of that segment, an exciting morning around here. a bit of a holiday fixture around here, broin boitano is performing for us on the rockefeller ice skating rink. and colbie caillat and gavin degraw performing a song they co-wrote. the two of them so talented. >> they are and i love seeing them together. first a check of the morning's top news stories from andrea canning. andrea, good morning. >> good morning, natalie and willie and happy new year to everyone at home. >> unsettled weather will impact the central and southern states and bring snow in the ohio valley. snow showers are possible in the northern plains. chilly temperatures and clouds

are on tap for much of the west. now yoe >> the new year is off to a great store. temperatures will be up near 40 with partly cloudy skies. >> now let's send it back to natalie. >> andrea, thanks. fritattas and french toast for your first meal of the new year, after this. so... [ gasps ]

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in "today's" holiday kitchen, a taste of the lighter side. donatele, chef and owner of donate donatelerestaurant. >> we start with. >> lots of great fruits. >> drink while we cook. >> you're making a frittata for us this morning. >> yes. starting with four eggs and another four eggs separated. yolk and whites. these are whipped. i'll add them in later. >> why is it important to separate? >> i want to whip the egg whites and make the frittata lighter.

so then you just add in the gruyere cheese, parmesan and mint. if you don't have that around, you can use different cheeses and different greens. mix it all together. and then you need to fold in the egg whites. >> people are always asking about folding in. >> come on, you can fold. >> you do it little bit by little bit? >> great fold, natalie. >> you were up late last night. >> well, no, no. >> now we have the as pair -- asparagus and tomatoes simmering. >> salt and pepper. >> hit hit me with some pepper. >> okay. asparagus and tomato already saw todaying in olive oil. >> put this in. you let it cook. lift up the edges, which takes about five minutes. you finish it in the oven at 350 for about seven minutes. >> it's that easy?

>> you don't have to be slaving over the stove when your guests come. >> looks gorgeous. >> see how nice and fluffy it is? >> almost like a spanish tortilla. >> that looks beautiful. >> the perfect breakfast on new year's day. >> you enjoy that. we're going to make the french toast. >> i'll take this, move over here. >> using brioche or if you have leftover. this is cream, milk, eggs. whipping this all together. this is so easy. >> brown sugar. >> brown sugar. get in there. there you go. cheers. >> this is what happens. you come to the "today" show on new year's day. you mix it all in. then you take a buttered casserole, like this. you lay the french toast in. >> that's beautiful. >> top it with brown sugar. i'm getting better as we go. >> there you go. >> first you have to pour in the

mixture. i'm sorry. there we go. this takes all the work out of it. you pour in the mixture, let it sit for about 35 minutes. then you add in the brown sugar, the butter, cut butter. and then you put it in the oven for about 45 minutes to an hour at 400 degrees and you come out and this is what it looks like. >> beautiful. >> really, really easy. and then it's cranberry time. i cook some up with orange juice until they burst. you can put it as a compote and, of course, some warm maim syrup -- warm maple syrup. today is not the day to start your resolution. >> tomorrow is what we learned earlier. january 2nd is when you start.

>> happy new year. >> happy new year. >> all the best to you. champion figure skater brian boitano out on the rock center rink after these messages. [ male announcer ] coughequence™ #8. waking the baby. [ coughs ] [ baby crying ] ♪ [ male announcer ] robitussin® liquid formula soothes your throat on contact and the active ingredient relieves your cough. robitussin®. don't suffer the coughequences™. ♪

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i got cracker chips. [ laughing ] chocolatey pretzel. mmmm.... special k! [ female announcer ] snack and stay on track with special k. i like "confidence." i am a confident lady. [ laughter ] not just the ones you can find on a map. but the ones you can find in your heart. because inspiration doesn't favor those who sit still. it dances with the daring and rewards the courageous with ideas. ideas that inspire. ideas that take you places you never imagined. ideas big enough to make the heart skip a beat and, in some cases, maybe two. toyota. let's go places.

gold medal winner brian boitano has won more titles than any other male professional skater. >> thanks for having me again. >> a few years ago, people were asking what would brian boitano do. what is your new year's resolution? >> stay in good shape, eat healthier. exercise as much as i can. pretty much how i've been living. >> what have you been doing over the past couple of years? we've been seeing a lot of you around new year's time it seems every year the past couple of years. >> i've been skating pretty much full time and i have a new cookbook coming out in april. i did a new tv show for hgtv where i renovate my ancestoral

home in italy. that will come out next year. it was fun and exciting and i got to meet a lot of my family. >> not as many olympians have had crossover success in other industries, as you have as an entertainer and also as a chef as it turns out. how did you cross all those different paths? >> i think i was lucky enough to meet the right people that introduced me to the direction and my path, where my passion was, which is food. two passions. working out, competing and food and entertaining. i learned that from my family. it's been an interesting process doing the cookbook. my family comes in, in a large way. so i get to relive all those great memories. >> you have some travels coming up in the new year as well. where are you headed? >> i'm going to do a skating tour in brazil. that should be fun. you know, i wonder what my costume will look like for that. >> you've got to do a little

samba routine. start working on that. pretty good. portuguese. as you get into position, i'll let everyone know that you're going to be skating to a classic frank sinatra's "that's life." ladies and gentlemen, brian boitano. ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ >> brian boitano, thank you. we're back after your local news.

colbie caillat and gavin

degraw performed earlier this morning. we're in for a real treat now. the very talented colbie caillat and gavin degraw. ♪ they all say it all the ones who made it once you find the one you claim it but you're gonna have to fight ♪ ♪ when i see that i think through the sound track we didn't see the light ♪ ♪ and now we both out of this

heart. we both know ♪ always try to be like happiness trying to be the one who understands when things don't go as you plan we still ♪ ♪ and now we both know our own

limitations that's why we're strong now that we are far apart leading each other out of the dark ♪ ♪ cause we both know what we're scared of what we're scared of what dreams are made of what dreams are made of zblmplths they cou they could take us further than what anybody could see it ♪ ♪ we both know our own limitations and that's why we're strong ♪ ♪ now that we are so far apart

leading each other out of the dark we both we both know our know our own limitations ♪ ♪ that's why we're strong ♪ now that we have come so far apart leading each other out of the dark cause we both know we both know ♪ >> they sing well together, colbie caillat and gavin degraw,

thank you. we want to raise our glasses to you and wish you a happy new year. >> we wish you a happy and healthy new year. we're back after your local weather. .